Idaho Caretaker Accused of Sexual Misconduct with Elderly Women

SPIRIT LAKE, Idaho (AP) — A caretaker at a northern Idaho assisted living facility has been accused of sexually assaulting two bedridden residents at the center.

The Coeur d'Alene Press reports 49-year-old Phillip Ray Smalley was arrested Saturday on two counts of forcible sexual penetration by use of a foreign object and two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult.

The alleged victims are 102 and 82.

Hutcheson says police received a report of a possible sex offense at the facility Aug. 14. Another allegation involving a different resident surfaced and a search warrant was issued.

Spirit Lake Police Chief Keith Hutcheson says Smalley has been a caretaker at the Spirit Lake facility for six weeks, but Smalley told police he has been working as a caretaker at senior facilities for nearly 30 years.